The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-08-26
Hygiene for Housekeers.

1t is the "modef' wives and moth
ers who suffer most. Their dangers
are we'll illustrated by an incident
related in London medical journal,
of lady, the mother of eight child
rem, who was seized with an acute
mania and confined to an asylum.
The husband when asked the cause
of her insanity replied that he could
conceive of no possible reason. She
was most devoted mother, was al.
ways doing something for US, was al.
ways at home; meyer went out of the
house even on Sundays, never went
gadding about to the neighbors, gos-
slipping and talking; she was the
best of wives; had no ideas outside
of her home.
The husband, says the superin-
tendent of the asylum in which she
was confined, has furnished a graph
ic list of the wife's insanity.
So much for the evils now for the
remedy. Specific directions are i'm
possible, AMI could not be carried
out if given. But few general prin.
ciples may be suggested, which it is
to be hope will commend themselves
as reasona ole to all.
l. Every woman needs to take
regular exercise in theiopen air every
day; and that exercise should not be
in the nature of work, but of recrea-
tion.
2. AS rule housekeepers need to
eat more of simple food if the food
is simpler, less time will he needed
in its preparation, and what it lacks
in unwholesome richness and unnec-
essary variety, it will gain in nutri.
ment and digestibility. The result
will be an improvement in the health
of all the family, and will injure no
one but the doctor.
3. Less time ought to be given to
the routine work of housekeeping and
more to relaxation and recreation. All
that the best of wives did not do, and
for the lack of which she became an
inmate Of an insane asylum, the house
keeper ought to do. The women who
always stays at home, and who never
goes out of the house even on Sundays,
and who is always doing something
for her family, not only will have no
ideas outside of her home, but will
soon come to have none even there.
The short of the matter is, that
women if they desire good health must
not be confined too closely to household
cares. know that many women will
look upon this advice as absurd, and
will say it is very easy for you to
preach, but quite another thing for us
to practice. A woman's duties involve
a multitude of little things, the inn
portance of which man never realizes
until they are omitted, and then he is
the first to find fault. These things
must be done. l cannot stop, can.
not find time to take ont-of-door exer-
else and visit my neighbors. The work
must be done and l must do it.
Nevertheless the fact remains, when
serious illness comes to the mistress of
the house, the wheels of the tread-mill
cease to revolve, at least for her. Then
the work either stops entirely, or goes
under other hands, and is cared for by
other heads. The question is a peril.
nent one, would it not be better to do
less work while in health, and thus
avoid the sickness? And even hired
help is better than medical attendance.
The old maxim, "a stitch in time saves
nine,' and can ounce of prevention is
worth pound of cure" are worthy of
consideration in this connection
Good Housekeeping,